Harbaugh dubs Alex Smith an ‘expert’ in 49ers’ system

Alex Smith aced another practice session Thursday, completing passes on target and showing total control of a system he didn’t officially jump into until last August under coach Jim Harbaugh.

It’s been quite a contrast from a year ago. Last training camp, I recall seeing Harbaugh constantly work on Smith’s footwork, his fundamentals, anything and everything.

So I asked Harbaugh today if his role changed this camp, if he merely just goes over routes and decisions with Smith. “My role with him is about the same,” Harbaugh responded.

But Smith is more comfortable in the offense, right?

“He’s an expert at this offense,” Harbaugh replied.

So began an intriquing storyline, filled with praise but not hyperbole. I’ve written that angle up for our print and online versions, and I’ll attach an unedited version at the bottom of this post. But first, let’s go over a few practice notes:

— Linebacker Aldon Smith did not practice but he did come out to watch his teammates for the first time since bruising his right hip in Friday’s exhibition opener. Smith walked fine without a limp and without those canes that supported him after the game. It was a good sign for the 49ers, who will need last season’s sack leader available for a Week 1 date at Green Bay.

— Also not practicing were linebacker Ahmad Brooks and tight end Delanie Walker for a fourth straight day; cornerback Perrish Cox for a second straight day; and linebacker Cam Johnson, who also came out to watch the end of practice without any supportive braces on his suspect knee. Cox did individual conditioning drills on a side field, apparently for a leg injury even though he walked without a limp, too.

— To prepare for Reliant Stadium’s noise, the 49ers piped in music during some offensive drills, starting with AC/DC’s “Back in Black.”

— Vernon Davis made several catches of Alex Smith passes, but none more impressive than a touchdown reception against the first-string defense.

— Cornerback Tramaine Brock practiced with a splint on his left pinkie.

— Wide receiver Joe Hastings remained out of team drills but looks ready to return soon from a leg injury that’s sidelined him most of camp.

— Brandon Jacobs received multiple carries on goal-line plays.

— Kyle Nelson, the backup long snapper, made a terrific one-handed catch of a Scott Tolzien pass.

— For the second straight day, cornerback Deante’ Purvis collided with Ted Ginn Jr. on a pass route. Not smart. You don’t want an undrafted rookie cripling your return specialist before training camp even ends.

— This was the final scheduled practice of training camp in which the media could attend. Harbaugh, however, wouldn’t declare camp done, and not just because they have a mock game Friday that is closed to the media before the team flies to Houston.

“We have nowhere to break to, we’re here,” Harbaugh said of the 49ers’ year-round facility.

— Both Harbaugh and Smith raved about Randy Moss’ on-field approach. “The way he competes, and he’s always talking about football,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve never come up on him in one of those gregarious moods where he’s not talking about football.”

Smith said of Moss: “The joy of the game comes out for sure, you can see it out there, how much he likes being out there, being with his teammates. Got a great sense of humor. He’s out there working. Great communication out there.”

Here is the story I just wrote for our online and print versions about the so-called expert named Alex Smith (sarcastic aside, I don’t think Harbaugh was referring to Smith weeks ago when he ripped “so-called experts” for their critiques of A.J. Jenkins):

“It takes about two years in the system to be a real expert at it from the quarterback position, but he’s cut that in half,” Harbaugh said.

Last August, after the labor lockout ended, Smith began practicing for the first time under Harbaugh. What ensued was a career-reviving season for Smith, and a NFC Championship game berth for the 49ers.

So how capable is Smith of a successful encore?

Smith has commanded the offense with noticeable conviction this training camp, especially in the past week as he’s thrown with precision. That includes Friday’s exhibition-opening win over the Minnesota Vikings, in which Smith was 3-of-3 and threw a touchdown pass to cap his only series of work.

It wasn’t that showing, nor any practice or play, that convinced Harbaugh of Smith’s newfound “expert” status.

“I notice it now,” Harbaugh said. “It’s all been a process. By the time we get here next year, he’ll probably roll past me.

“Because he’s very smart, and already has great ideas, already very creative, already very knowledgeable about how to use everything in the system for our offense’s good. Way ahead of the curve.”

Relayed those compliments, Smith let out a wry smile, a soft chuckle and shook his head from side to side Humbly, he shot down the notion of being a so-called expert.

“No, no, no, not at all. A lot to learn,” said Smith, whose next chance to show his expertise is Saturday night when the 49ers visit the Houston Texans.

Surveying his up-and-down career, Smith confirmed he knows more about this system than those others from his first six seasons (with six different coordinators).

“It’s better than it was a year ago,” Smith said. “I feel I’ve progressed. When you’re playing quarterback, you’re always working to get better and learn. It’s never ending. A lot left to learn.”

Smith set career highs last season with 3,144 yards passing and a 61.4 completion percentage. He threw 17 touchdown passes, and none of his five interceptions came after Thanksgiving.

Of course, it was only a few months ago when the 49ers looked into Peyton Manning’s services before re-signing Smith to a three-year, $24 million contract.

Although Harbaugh said he is coaching Smith in a similar fashion as a year ago – when he constantly stressed fundamentals such as footwork – Smith said he is indeed more comfortable with this system and its finite details.

The other aspect to conquering Harbaugh’s version of the West Coast offense, Smith said, is understanding the intent of play calls, which typically come from offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

“We’re all ahead of the game,” Smith said. “It doesn’t guarantee us anything. But for sure, much more comfortable.

“At this point last year, we’re still installing, still learning it.”

While he may know the schemes, Smith has been learning how to throw to several new receivers, including Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and first-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins.

Smith said of those changes: “That’s going to be every single year. It’s just the nature of the game. It’s every single position. Year in year out you’ve got to adjust. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. We won’t be the same team we were last year. The offense evolves.”

Smith’s connection with tight end Vernon Davis has evolved best, as highlighted by their winning touchdown completion in last season’s playoff opener against New Orleans. In Thursday’s practice, Smith found Davis again for a touchdown in the first snap against the more-heralded starting defense.

It was yet another example of what Harbaugh said of Smith: “He’s an expert at this offense.”